On April 1, Grammy Award-winning bluegrass musician Tim O’Brien conducted a day-long masterclass with alumni and current members of the West Virginia University Bluegrass and Old-Time Bands. 

Throughout the day O’Brien and WVU Associate Professor and Band Director Chris Haddox hosted multiple workshops on songwriting and traditional bluegrass playing ahead of a sold-out concert at West Virginia University’s Creative Art Center later that evening. 

“Music kind of creates a community, and it’s an exalted position to be up on a stage and to be part of the thing that brings people together,” O’Brien said.